Lyrics
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we'll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;Never fear, only trust and obey
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Trust and Obey describes Christian discipleship as a life shaped by confidence in God and practical response to his word. Each verse names a different burden: shadows, fear, sorrow, loss, sacrifice, or an uncertain path. Against each one, the hymn returns to the same answer. Trust receives God’s guidance, while obedience follows where that guidance leads. The refrain connects joy in Jesus with both attitudes rather than treating faith as belief without action.
The opening image of walking in the light of God’s word recalls Psalm 119:105, where Scripture is a lamp for the path. The emphasis on obedience also reflects John 14:15, in which love for Christ is joined to keeping his commands. In its later verses, laying everything on the altar expresses surrender, and sitting at Christ’s feet expresses fellowship. The hymn does not promise an absence of grief or toil. Instead, it portrays divine companionship through them and presents faithful obedience as the fitting response to God’s presence, direction, and care.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 119:105 The psalm describes God’s word as a light for the path.
- John 14:15 Jesus connects love for him with keeping his commands.
- 1 Samuel 15:22 Samuel teaches that obedience is better than sacrifice.